No more ‘shoes off’ at US airports

The UK is slowly relaxing liquids restrictions at airports thanks to next generation scanners, and the US has finally updated its own airport security procedures.

You will no longer need to remove your shoes when passing through security in the US.

The new rule comes on the back of a 20-year plan to implement something called ‘REAL ID’ for domestic travellers.

Whilst not relevant to international passengers, it sets minimum security standards for forms of identification such as driving licences, which are issued state-by-state.

Although passed in 2005, REAL ID was finally implemented this year. None of this is particularly relevant to non-Americans except that, as a result of the implementation, the Transportation Security Administration has finally updated its procedures.

Anyone travelling with a REAL ID or passport (including foreign passports) no longer needs to remove footwear. Anyone without REAL ID will have to go for further screening.

I think most people would agree that security at US airports is not a lot of fun, with aggressive shouting, long queues and burdensome rules such as the removal of footwear. Removing this final requirement will hopefully reduce some of the hassle.

Why it’s taken the TSA so long, when almost every other country has not required footwear to be scanned separately for years, is anyone’s guess. That said, TSA checkpoints generally seem less well-equipped than their international counterparts, often relying on older, less advanced equipment.